Construction Jobs Continue to Rise

Good news for you contractors! Employment in the construction field is continuing a steady growth, which means more job security for you! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, at the end of 2017, they revealed continued job growth in the United States with the unemployment rate at 4.1%. Ten percent of the jobs added were in the construction industry; there were 228,000 jobs added in the entire economy.

Construction Employers of America were happy with these statistics showing how valuable and important the construction trade is. Most of all November 2017’s job growth happened in the specialty trade construction sector, which shows that America still needs and values highly-skilled labor.

In November, employment in the construction field was up 24,000 jobs and 22,600 of them were specialty trade jobs. Of this numbers, 12,000 jobs were added in non-residential specialty construction and 10,700 were added in residential specialty construction.

It is believed specialty trader construction is growing because of the extensive and high-quality job training and apprenticeship programs, also customers have projects that are becoming larger and more complex.

Thinking about getting a job in the construction field? Now is the time. As you can see from above, the market is growing. After completely your training and exams, you will be able to find jobs in this field across the country. Never practice without a license. In most states, unlicensed contractor work is illegal. Plus, many people will not hire you if you are not licensed, because they assume you will not deliver a quality product.

Looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? Let us help you! We are a Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of people get their contractor license. We will make the process simple and fast for you! Just tell us some information, and we will complete and submit all the paperwork. Work with us to get your Florida contractor’s license. To get started on the contractor license process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

Great Hand Tools for Contractors

Contractors are always using their hands. Whether you’re a general contractor or a plumber, you need your hands to get the job done. For this article, we wanted to share with you some great hand tools for you to purchase for your job! Whether you buy it on your own, or tell your employer about it, you need these hand tools in your life! They’ll make your job so much easier!

C-Style Close Quarters Copper Tubing Cutters – This product is made by Ridgid. With this tool, you can cut three sizes of copper pip with a ½” and ¾” combined tubing cutter. You can easily switch back and froth between the sizes. There are slots around the outside of the cutter for a flat-head screwdriver to rotate the tool when needed.

Deb1 Deburring and Chamfering Tool – This product is made by Reed. It is used with PVC, CPVC, ABS, PE, and PP pipe that is up to 2 inches in diameter. It comes with an internal pip guide and a knurled grip. You can choose to sharpen or replace the blade.

Pirana II Plastic Pipe Ratchet Cutter – This product is made by J.C. Whitlam. This product can be used with one hand. It comes with a 2” cutter carbon-steel blade. It is heavy duty and makes a clean cut.

Crescent 12” Self-Adjusting Pipe Wrench – This product is made by Apex. You can use it with one hand. It has a self-adjusting head that grabs and releases pipe and fasteners; it has fast-ratcheting action. It has a tooth design that allows the jaws of the wrench to bite down deeply and hold tight, even under heavier force. It can fit in tight spaces.

Come back to our blog for more blogs on tool products. We love sharing with you!

In the market for a contractor’s license? You came to the right place. If you’d like to get your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you! We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We will do the work for you! To get started on the contractor license process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

Benefits of Hiring a General Contractor

Being a contractor is a rewarding job. Contractors get to work on a project, and usually see it from start to finish, and can be proud of the work you put in to create an impressive product. The job is a challenging one, both mentally and physically.  Contractors need good management skills, finance skills, you have to stay on top of your licensure, be good with your hands, be physically able to handle tasks, be able to negotiate prices, work with other contractors, deal with on-site job issues, and more. For this article, we wanted to share with you the benefits of hiring a general contractor, instead of doing a job on your own. By looking at these points, you can make an educated guess as to if you need a general contractor and why.

  • You don’t have to lift a finger. Contractors will take care of the entire project.
  • Due to skills and experience, the job will be finished faster than if you did it yourself.
  • Not only will the job be finished faster, it will be done more efficiently.
  • Contractors have connections with other contractors and vendors.
  • It may cost more than if you did the job yourself, but there’s a good chance the project was completed faster, with better materials, and looks more professional.
  • Contractors can get deals on materials you won’t be able to get yourself.
  • Their extensive training and licensure allows them to handle different types and sizes of projects in your home.
  • Complications on the job occur. A contractor mostly likely has been up against all complications before and knows how to handle them, you may not have this expertise.
  • Whenever you build a home, complete a renovation, or put on an addition, you have to abide by building codes. Contractors stay up to date with these codes and they know to comply with them.
  • Contractor’s carry liability insurance and worker’s compensation incase anything serious happens on the job.
  • General contractors usually provide a warranty for their work.

 

If you’d like to get your Florida contractor’s license,, let us help you! We are a Florida contractor licensing company. To get started on the contractor license process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

 

 

What Does A General Contractor Do?

Do you know what a general contractor does exactly? What the position entails? There’s so many different types of contractors today that it can be hard to remember who does what. If you’re looking to hire a general contractor for work, you want to make sure he or she has the right skills you need for the job.

In the state of Florida, a general contractor is recognized as a “a contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring licensure under this part, and who may perform any work requiring licensure under this part, except as otherwise expressly provided in s. 489.113.”

In order to become a licensed general contractor, a person must show 48 months on jobs with at least 12 months as a foreman or a combination of college and experience totaling at least 48 months with at least 12 of those months as a foreman. This person must also show at least 1 year or more of experience with habitable structures bigger than 4 stories. He or she must also have responsibility in at least four of the following areas in construction: Foundation/slabs greater than 20,000 sq. ft, Masonry walls, Steel erection, Elevated slabs, Precast concrete structures, Column erection, and Formwork for structural reinforced concrete.

If you’re a homeowner and need work done in or outside your home, most likely, you’ll need to call up a general contractor. Looking to build a home theater? Game room? Home office? Hobby room? Outdoor deck? Raised ceilings? Want a second floor? Outdoor kitchen? A total remodeling? A general contractor and his team of subcontractor can plan and execute this project.

A general contractor can help a person or family renovate and improve the look of their home without them having to buy a new home to fulfill their new needs or desires.

If you or someone you know is looking to become a licensed general contractor, we can help. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of contractors get their license. To learn more about this process, click our Florida general contractor page. We make the process fast and simple. To start working with us today, click our Florida contractor page or call 239-777-1028.

General Contractors vs. Subcontractors

General contractors have a Division 1 License, which can consist of a General, Building or Residential contractor’s license.  These types of contractors are generally a single person or a company, they do business by obtaining contracts and carrying them out. They are responsible for hiring sub-contractors within specific fields to get the jobs completed. They are also responsible for providing all material, labor, permits and equipment to complete the contract. Contractors are in charge of recruiting an inspector because every project has to pass inspection in order to be complete.

 

Sub-contractors work for General Contractors and are required to obtain a Division 2 License in their desired field, such as plumbing, HVAC, Electrical and other contractor specialties.  They are hired by general contractors to assist them in completing the contract given. Subcontractors are hired on a skill set basis and are hired to perform specific tasks as a part of the overall project. The same Subcontractors usually work together from project to project to keep work following and projects organized.

 

General Contractors and subcontractors work very hard together to complete a construction project. The contractor acts as the manager of the project, serving as the central point of communication and organization. The subcontractors are to complete the project within time given. Most projects are on a very tight and demanding schedule and deadline. The Contractors work together with the subcontractors to make sure the deadlines are met and work is completed and up to code. When closer to the deadline, the General Contractor will have an inspector come in and conduct a very thorough inspection. The Contractor will be given a checklist of things that are still needed to be completed, now all the contractors will work together to complete the checklist before the final inspection.

 

Are you looking to become a Florida contractor? Let us help you with the process! We are a Florida contractor licensing company who helps people get their Florida contractor’s license. Whether you like electrical work or plumbing, we can help you through the process; we do all the heavy work for you! To get started, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Self-Reporting Crime as a Contractor

Did you know as a contractor yourself supposed to self-report any crime you did? Whether or not you knew this information, we want to make you aware of the rules when it comes to self -reporting so you will not get in trouble more than you have to.

As of now, if you are a contractor, you a required to report any crime you have been found guilty of or pled no contest to within 30 days. Any charge falls under this ruling, even if it has nothing to do with your job. It is regardless of adjudication.

If the Licensing Board finds that you, the licensed contractor, were charged during a time that you had a license, and you didn’t report it, the Board can do any number of things from mild penalties to more severe ones.

The Board can: issue a formal reprimand, restrict your practice, suspend or permanently revoke your license, fine you up to $5,000 per offense, place you on probation with the possibility of requiring you do to more exams, schooling hours and treatment (drugs, anger) if it correlates to your offense and charged crime.

If you self-report, you can avoid a Board review when submitting applications for your current license, including transferring your license to another company, changing to active status or qualifying an additional entity.

When you submit any application, a background check is done, and if the Board finds a crime you committed during the time you held your license and didn’t report it, it is most likely you will be called in before the board. It’s in your best interest to report.

If you have any questions about self-reporting or getting your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. We are an experienced Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of people get their license. For more information or to start today, view our Florida Contractor’s License page.

What is a Pollutant Storage Contractor?

Contracting is a very lucrative career. A career in contracting has many specialties for a person to choose from. Through training and apprenticeships, a person generally can find their niche in such a large field. For this article, we will focus on a pollutant storage contractor. After reading the details of this occupation, you may have a better idea if this is the right type of contracting work for you.

To become a pollutant storage contractor in the state of Florida, a person must:

  • Be at least 18
  • Have four years of experience in the trade with at least one year of supervisory work
  • Have a four-year construction-related degreed from an accredited college and one year related experience.
  • One year as a foreman and not less than three years of credits from accredited college level courses.
  • One year as a workman, one year experience as a foreman, two years of credits from accredited college courses.
  • Two years as a workman, one year as a foreman, 1 year of any college level courses.
  • Three years of college credit can substitute experience.

Pollutant storage contractors install, maintain, alter, extend, and design pollutant storage tanks. Pollutant storage contractors has knowledge and expertise in pre-installation and site preparation, material handling, excavation, tank installation, leak detection, tank removal, piping, and many other topics within this field. The state of Florida requires 14 hours of board-approved continuing education every two years before the licenses renewal period for certified and registered contractors.

This job is very hands on and requires a lot of physical work. If you think you’d be up for the challenge, try out an apprenticeship with a pollutant storage installation contractor or take a class or two to help you decide. Once you are ready to get your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. Contractor licensing applications can be tricky and complicated, so just give us all your information and we will do all the hard work for you. We help you get your license fast. To learn more about our services, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Appyling for a Joint Venture

Are you looking to apply to qualify for a joint venture? We’ve gathered up some information that can help you with this. We will share information from the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board, who is responsible for all licensing and regulating within the construction industry. This Board regulates both construction contractors and their businesses. On the Board’s website, they share some frequently asked questions with answers on all topics in the contractor community. For this article, we will pull out and share the portion about applying to qualify to a joint venture.

Q: Can you qualify a joint venture with your existing license?

A: No, you would have to apply to qualify the joint venture just like you would any other business.

Q: Can your company form a joint venture with an unlicensed company?

A: Yes. You would have to apply to qualify the joint venture just like you would any other business.

Q: Can the joint venture bid a project prior to you becoming approved as a qualifying agent?

A: Yes, but the joint venture must obtain approval of the Construction Industry Licensing Board’s Executive Director prior to submitting the bid on a construction project. The joint venture must provide the Executive Director a copy of the written joint venture agreement and a statement of authority signed by an officer of each company giving the proposed qualifying agent full authority to conduct the contracting business of the joint venture.

For the full list of the questions and answers, you can visit the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board’s official website.

Are you looking to get your contracting license in Florida or Georgia? We are here to help. We are a contractor licensing company and we pride ourselves on giving the best service in our industry. We get contractors licensed fast and painlessly. About 95 percent of our Florida contractor licensing packages are approved the first time, and our contractors are usually licensed within 10 days of the submission of the package. If you’re looking for a new business, we help incorporate new businesses and form LLCs within a day or two. To start the contractor license application process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

What is the NASCLA Exam?

If you’re a contractor, and want to be licensed in multiple states, we want to give you some on information on how to go about doing this. The NASCLA accredited examination (The National Association of State Contractor Licensing Agencies) hold the Commercial General Building Contractor exam in September 2009. The purpose of this exam is so a contractor does not have to take a trade exam every time he or she applies for a new license through a different state agency. This exam is considered very beneficial to contractors who want to be licensed across several states, because the regular trades exams can be redundant.

For the states that hold the NASCLA exam, it comes in two ways: administered or accepted. For those states that administer this exam, they will use it as their trade exam. Georgia is one of the starts, so if you want to apply for a contractor’s license in Georgia and take the trade exam, you thus have taken the NASCLA Commercial General Building Contractor exam. Because you have taken the NASCLA exam, you are now able to apply for another license in another state that accepts this exam. The state would then have the trade exam waived for you.

With states that accept this NASCLA exam, this means a person has taken the exam either through a proctored session or through a state that administers the NASCLA exam. Remember, the NASCLA exam only waives the trade portion of an exam, you’ll still be required to take the state’s business and law exam.

If you’re looking for more information on the NASCLA exam or you’re looking to take the exam or want to get your Florida contractor’s license, we are here to help. We are a contractor licensing company who is dedicated to getting contractors their licenses fast and easy. We do it all for you! Let us help you today! Contact our office at 239-777-1028 or click  .

Veteran Contractor License Information

On July 1 2016, new provisions went into effect when it comes to a contractor’s license for United States military veterans. When applying for a contractor’s license a veterans’ military service can be used toward the licensure experience requirements. To receive credit for relevant military training and education, the following three points must be met to receive credit.

  1. Up to three years of active duty service in the military can be applied to the contractor license requirements; the type of duty or training does not matter.
  2. At least one additional year of active experience as a foreman in the trade, either civilian or military, is required to fulfill the experience requirement of Chapter 489.111(2)(c) of the regulations.
  3. Credit toward the requirements for licensure for military experience, training, and education received and completed during service in the U.S. Armed Forces, if it all is related to what is required for the licensure.

Looking forward, on October 1, 2017, the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation together with the Construction Industry Licensing Board will prepare and submit the report “Construction and Electrical Contracting Veteran Applicant Statistics;” this will be given to the Governor of Florida, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Inside the report, they will find the number of applicants who identify as a veteran; the number of approved veterans for a contractor’s license; the number of denied veterans and why they were, information regarding how long it took to processing these applications for the veterans; and lastly, recommendation on how the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation can better meet the needs of veterans applying to a contractor’s license.

As a contractor licensing company, we can work with U.S. veterans apply and receive their Florida contractor’s license. We take pride in making the process easy and as stress-free as possible. When you work with us, you just simply provide us with some information and we do the work for you. This can all be done over the phone. To learn more about getting at Florida contractor’s license, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.